Sheep foot tamper



1967. T. P. AVE RETTE 3,

SHEEP FOOT TAMPER Filed July 30, 1965 '9 I? (E if? THoMns 1 AVEEETT INVEN'TO v United States Patent Ofiice 3,358,569 Patented Dec. 19, 1967 3,358,569 SHEEP FOOT TAMPER Thomas P. Averette, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor of onethird to James R. Tweedy, Encino, and one-third to Stanley Z. Daniels, Granada Hills, Calif.

Filed July 30, 1965, Ser. No. 475,913 4 Claims. (Cl. 94-50) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A sheep foot tamper is provided having a metal shank formed with a transverse bore wherein the opposite ends of the bore are counterbored. A tamper element having a skirt is adapted to be disposed over the shank so that a transverse bore in the skirt is coaxial with the bore in the shank and the skirt being further formed with a counterbore opposite each of said shank counterbores. Locking means are disposed in each of said corresponding counterbores and a tapered pin is insertable within the coaxial tamper element and shank bores which is adapted to actuate the locking means so as to retain the tamper element on the shank.

This invention relates to earth tampers and more particularly to an improved sheep foot tamper construction adapted to be readily installed on and removed from the periphery of a cylindrical roller.

In the use of tamping equipment for compacting earth, soil and rocks, the steel tamping feet, even though hardened on the end, become worn and must be replaced. Sheep foot tampers have. been devised wherein the foot or ground contacting end portion is made removable from the main body or shank of the tamper which in turn is welded to the surface of the roller or drum. One such tamper having a removable construction is shown in my Patent 2,893,298 issued July 7, 1959, while another tamper embodying removable construction features is shown in my Patent 3,099,191 issued July 30, 1963.

The sheep foot tamper of the present invention includes a foot having a skirt which is detachably connected to a shank or body that is welded to the periphery of a cylindrical roller. The fastening means are employed to permit the releasable coupling of the foot with the shank in such a fashion that a minimum number of parts are employed as well as simplicity in construction so that specially designed or formed parts are not necessary to achieve the releasable fastening feature and so that parts which are generally available may be employed.

Therefore, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a new and improved construction for sheep foot tampers of the type embodying a shank or main body and a removable foot secured to the shank by novel fastening means.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved fastening means for detachably connecting the foot of the tamper to the shank of the tamper which is mounted on the periphery of a roller whereby the connection means is designed to withstand the ordinary use and abuse to which tampers are generally subjected.

Still another object of the present invention to provide a unique construction for a sheep foot tamper whereby different types of feet can be attached to the shank of the device, and in this connection it is still a further object to provide an improved interfitting construction which detachably secures the parts together against rotation irrespective of the uneven loading of the foot portion, as where crushed rock or the like is being compacted.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide in a construction of a sheep foot tamper, novel fastening means employing ordinary parts which do not require special forming which include a pin operable with expanding washers for retaining the pin in place to join the tamper with its mounting shank.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a novel construction for a sheep foot tamper embodying a conventional pin together with lock Washers disposed on opposite ends of the pin to retain the pin in place whereby the tamper portion is securely fastened and retained to the shank portion of the construction.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary end elevational view of a tamping roller having a plurality of sheep foot tampers incorporating the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary central longitudinal sectional view through a sheep foot tamper embodying the features of the present invention;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view of the sheep foot tamper taken in the direction of arrows 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the fastening means employed in the tamper taken in the directions of arrows 4-4 of the tamper illustrated in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is an exploded elevation view of the sheep foot tamper shown in FIGURE 2 illustrating the tamper removed from the main body or shank; and

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of the fastening means for releasably securing the tamper to the main body.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, a tamping roller indicated by numeral It is illustrated which is normally constructed of metal and includes a plurality of sheep foot tampers, such as tamper 11 arranged about the periphery of the roller wherein each tamper 11 includes a main body portion or shank 12 which is welded to the surface of the roller and on which a tamper element 13 is mounted. Fastening means 14 are provided for releasably securing the tamper element to the main body.

Referring now to FIGURES 2 and 3, numeral 12 generally indicates the main body or shank which supports the tamper element or foot 13. The shank is provided with a somewhat concave base surface 14a which is secured against the periphery of the roller by being welded thereto. The shank is shown as a tapering body of rectangular cross section with parallel side surfaces 15 and converging end surfaces 16. The aforementioned side surfaces 15 and the end surfaces 16 are stepped in a common plane to provide a shoulder 17 which extends completely around the shank and to form a recessed upper or side surface 18 and recessed upper end surfaces 19. The shank is formed to provide a transverse bore 20 employed for the reception of a retaining pin 21. The opposite ends of the transverse bore 20 are provided with a counter bore recess 22 and 23 which are adapted to receive a split spring washer 24 and 25 serving as means for releasably securing pin 21 to the shank.

The tamper element or foot 11 includes a body 26 which is shown as provided with a ground engaging end surface 27 and is formed to provide a skirt defined by the parallel side walls 28 and tapered end walls 29. The skirt fits over the outer and upper end portion of the shank to engage the recessed side and end walls of the shank. The ground engaging end surface 27 is rectangular in shape and extends beyond the aforementioned side surfaces and converging end surfaces so that when tamping foot 11 is forced into the earth, soil or rocks, the ground engaging surface 27 being larger in area than the tamper foot at 3 side wall 28 and end wall 29, will prevent unnecessary Wear on the side walls 28 and the end walls 29.

The side walls of the skirt have a transverse bore 30, co-axial with the shank bore 20, which also accommodates the insertion of tapered pin 21. The inner wall surfaces of the skirt are formed with a counter bore or recess 31 and 32 about the skirt transverse bore so as to receive split spring washers 33 and 34 which expand with a tension gripping action around pin 21 in the same manner as in connection with washers 24 and 25.

When the pin 21 is inserted into the shank and skirt .co-axial bores via its tapered end 35 first, the sloping sides of the tapered pin engages the plurality of spring washers forcibly urging the washers to expand outwardly to tightly engage the pin and retain it in place within the bores to secure the tamper element to the shank.

FIGURE 4 shows the washer 24 expanded within the recess or counter bore 23 of the shank to lock pin 21 in position. The washer is shown as being split at numeral 36.

FIGURE 6 illustrates the split washer in its closed position preparatory to being expanded by the insertion of pin 21 through the co-axial bores.

In operation, the tamper element 13 is aligned with shank 12 as illustrated in the exploded view of FIGURE so that the skirt is fitted over the recessed walls of the shank to align the transverse bores formed in both the tamper element skirt and shank. Each of the counter bores carries a split spring washer so that when the tamper element and the shank are assembled, the washers are in position to inserta-bly receive the pin 21.

The tapered end of the pin 21 is first inserted through the skirt bore on one side of the tamper element and' driven through the center of the Washers into the shank bore followed by being further driven through the other pair of washers. As the pin is so driven through the closed Washers, the enlarged diameter of the pin operating on the relatively smaller inside diameter of the washers causes the washers to expand outwardly whereby the pin becomes tightly engaged with the washers in an interference type fit so that the tension gripping action produced thereby locks the tamper element to the shank.

Separation of the tamper element from the shank is effected by merely removing the pin from its seat in the co-axial bores by any suitable means such as punching for example. The washers may be discarded and new washers replaced in the respective counter bores to elfect re-assembly of the tamper.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made Without departing from this invention in its broader aspects, and, therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. A sheep foot tamper comprising:

a metal shank having a transverse bore formed therein;

the opposite ends of such shank bore being counterbored;

a tamper element having a skirt adapted to be disposed over said shank;

said skirt having a transverse bore co-axial with said shank bore when said skirt is disposed on said shank and being formed with counter-bores opposite said shank bore counter bores;

an expandable split spring washer captured in each of said counter-bores and being co-axial with said transverse bores; and

a tapered pin insertable with said co-axial transverse bores and being adapted to expand said washers in a tension gripping relationship therewith to retain said tamper element on said shank.

2. A sheep foot tamper comprising:

a metal shank including a recessed tapered portion having a transverse bore formed therein;

the opposite ends of such shank bore being counterbored;

a tamper element having tamper body located on one end thereof;

a skirt carried on said tamper body of reduced dimensions and being adapted to be disposed over said shank;

said skirt having .a transverse bore co-axial with said shank bore and being formed with counter-bores opposite to and corresponding to said shank bore counter bores; I

an expandable washer movably captured in each of said counter-bores so as to allow longitudinal floating movement as well as radial movement thereof; and

a tapered pin insertable within said co-axi-al transverse bores adapted to expand said washers in a tension gripping relationship therewith to retain said tamper element on said shank and adapted to be extracted to collapse said washers to release said tamper elemeat from said shank.

3. The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said skirt defines a socket adapted to receive said shank.

4. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein said tamper body is rectangular in shape and having a perimeter greater than the end of said skirt joining said tamper body.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,856,930 5/ 1932 Robin 37-142 2,435,847 2/ 1948 Robertson 37-142 2,610,416 9/ 1952 Crawford 37-142 2,994,140 8/ 1961 Launder 37142 3,013,620 12/1961 Hill 37142 3,252,391 5/1966 Dils 94-50 3,274,908 9/1966 Grant et al 94--50 JACOB L. NACKENOFF, Primary Examiner. 

1. A SHEEP FOOT TAMPER COMPRISING: A METAL SHANK HAVING A TRANSVERSE BORE FORMED THEREIN; THE OPPOSITE ENDS OF SUCH SHANK BORE BEING COUNTERBORED; A TAMPER ELEMENT HAVING A SKIRT ADAPTED TO BE DISPOSED OVER SAID SHANK; SAID SKIRT HAVING A TRANSVERSE BORE CO-AXIAL WITH SAID SHANK BORE WHEN SAID SKIRT IS DISPOSED ON SAID SHANK AND BEING FORMED WITH COUNTER-BORES OPPOSITE SAID SHANK BORE COUNTER BORES; AN EXPANDABLE SPLIT SPRING WASHER CAPTURED IN EACH OF SAID COUNTER-BORES AND BEING CO-AXIAL WITH SAID TRANSVERSE BORES; AND A TAPERED PIN INSERTABLE WITH SAID CO-AXIAL TRANSVERSE BORES AND BEING ADAPTED TO EXPAND SAID WASHERS IN A TENSION GRIPPING RELATIONSHIP THEREWITH TO RETAIN SAID TAMPER ELEMENT ON SAID SHANK. 